Pillow Design

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a pillow that will form fit over children&#39;s, teenagers, and adults hands. This pillow will provide a cushion between an individual&#39;s hand and head and/or face. The pillow can be used when lounging on the couch, during a car ride, in flight, etcetera. The intended use of the pillow is to provide comfort during times of relaxation or short periods of rest. The pillow is equipped to fit either hand for convenience and is optionally equipped with a machine washable pillowcase for purity and aesthetics.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/087,852 filed on Dec. 5, 2014.

BACKGROUND

During a flight or other travel methods such as car, trains, and the like, a passenger's hand cannot provide the support or the comfort needed to rest or comfortably relax. Using a pillow provided by the airline may be unsanitary and any pillow brought from home typically would be too large and/or inconvenient. The disclosed technology provides a solution for travelers struggling with the problem of comfortably resting one's head during road trips, times of relaxation, and travel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pillow according to one example of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 is a partial cut away view of the pillow shown in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 3 is a partial cut away view of a pillow according to another example of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the pillow shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the pillow shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of still another example of a pillow according to the disclosed technology.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a pillow according to another example of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the pillow shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a pillow according to another example of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the pillow shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a pillow according to an example of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a pillow according to an example of the disclosed technology.

DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the claimed technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the claimed technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the claimed technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the claimed technology relates.

The disclosed technology provides comfort for the hand, neck, and head when relaxing, sleeping, or traveling. The pillow may be made using nylon fiber as the fabric and thousands of micro-air beads to provide contoured support, cooling comfort airflow, and head, hand, and neck support. Variations of the pillow may use foam, down, feathers, and the like in place of the micro-air beads. Other variations may use other fabrics in place of nylon. The pillow itself may be fitted with the ambidextrous mitten-shaped sleeve and a removable pillow case. The pillows shown herein are generally square or round shaped and more or less symmetrical, but the present technology could also be practiced using pillows of other or more irregular shapes as desired. In some examples, the pillow and cover are machine washable and dryable. Sleeve sizes may vary so as to fit the hands of children, teenagers, and adults. Once the hand is in the desired position, users can then comfortably place their hand to their head and rest or sleep as desired.

The disclosed technology comprises a variety of small and lightweight pillows that can easily be packed or stored away when not in use. FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a hand pillow 10 according to one example of the disclosed technology. This particular example of a hand pillow 10 comprises a pillow or cushion portion 12 and a sleeve portion 14. The pillow portion 12 comprises a fabric cover enclosing some type of padding or cushion. The fabric may be made of cotton, nylon, silk, denim, or any other suitable natural or synthetic material or combination thereof. The padding or cushion may be a plurality of micro-air beads, solid foam batting, feathers, or any other loose or solid suitable material normally used to fill pillows.

The sleeve portion 14 is secured to one face of the pillow portion by a seam 16. The seam 16 may be formed by stitching or secured using a suitable adhesive. Optionally the sleeve portion may be formed from the fabric cover of the pillow portion 12 itself. An opening 24 along one edge of the pillow 12 allows the user to insert a hand into the sleeve portion to hold the pillow 10. Optionally, the opening 24 may include a draw string or other securing means so as to allow the user to tighten the opening 24 sufficiently so as to prevent the pillow 10 from sliding off the user's hand accidentally. The sleeve portion 14 in this particular example comprises two thumb portions 20, 22 disposed on either side of a larger central cavity 18. With this particular arrangement the user can insert either the left or right hand comfortably for use. In other examples, only a larger central cavity is used which still allows either hand to be used to hold the pillow but does not segregate the user's thumb from the rest of the hand. Optionally, the sleeve portion is lined with a material different from that which covers the rest of the pillow 10 such as fleece or other suitable material.

FIG. 2 shows a pillow 10 according to the example shown in FIG. 1 in use. In this particular example, a user 28 has inserted his hand 26 into the sleeve portion 14 of the pillow 10 through the opening 24. When the user curves his hand 26 into a loose fist the pillow portion 12 of the hand pillow 10 curves accordingly. The first face 32 of the pillow portion 12 on which sleeve 14 is disposed curves in towards the user's hand which allows the second face 30 of the pillow portion 12 which is disposed opposite the sleeve 13 to form a resting area for the user's face.

FIGS. 3-5 show a partial cut away side view of another example of a hand pillow 34 according to the disclosed invention. In this particular example, the pillow 34 comprises a pillow portion 36 is generally shaped like a rectangular solid and has a first face 46 and a second face 38 on which a sleeve portion 48 is disposed. The sleeve portion 48 is generally rectangular in shape which allows a user 44 to insert either hand 42 into the sleeve through an opening 40 disposed along one end of the pillow portion 36. The pillow portion 36 comprises an inner cushion portion and an outer covering portion which may be made from suitable materials as previously discussed. Optionally the pillow 34 may include an access opening 50 through which material may be added or removed from the pillow interior. The pillow portion 36 and sleeve 48 may be sized as desired with larger versions for adults and smaller versions for children. The hand pillow 34 may be used by inserting a hand 42 into the sleeve portion 48 and resting the first face 46 of the pillow portion 36 against the user's 44 face or head. In this particular example, the pillow portion 36 is sized so as to be at least slightly larger than the user's hand so that the entirety of the user's hand is covered by cushioning material when the pillow-covered hand is placed against the user's face or head.

FIGS. 6-8 show yet another example of a hand pillow 52 according to the disclosed technology. In this example, the hand pillow 52 comprises a pillow portion 54 and a sleeve portion 56 which is sized and configured so as to allow insertion of their the user's right or left hand through an opening 58 near one edge of the pillow. The hand pillow further includes a strap portion 60 secured to one end either by stitching, glue, or some other suitable securing method. The strap 60 may be made from the same material as the pillow covering or of a different material. The user may insert a hand through the strap 60 prior to insertion into the sleeve portion so as to prevent the pillow from being lost or dropped. Optionally, the strap may be made from an elastic material so the pillow can be rolled up and the strap drawn over the outside of the roll to secure the pillow for storage as shown in FIGS. 7-8.

FIGS. 9-10 show yet another example of a pillow 62 according to the disclosed technology. In this particular example, the pillow 62 comprises a cushion portion 64 having a front face 78 and a back face 80. A cavity 66 accessible via an opening 68 in one end of the cushion portion 64 is disposed between the front face 78 and back face 80 of the pillow and is generally sized and configured so as to accommodate either of the left of right hand of a user. A loop or strap comprising two separable portions 70, 72 is fixed to the pillow. One end of each strap portions 70, 72 is fixed to a face 78, 80 of the pillow using glue, snaps, sewing, or other suitable means. Each strap portion 70, 72 includes an end portion 74, 76 where a releasable joining means is secured. The specific joining means may vary, but can include snaps, buttons, hook-and-loop style fasteners, and the like. The two strap portions 70, 72 may be joined together at their respective end potions 74, 76 to form a unified strap or loop.

FIG. 11 shows another example of a hand pillow 90 according to the disclosed technology. In this example, a handle 94 is attached to one end of the pillow 90. In this particular example, the handle 94 is attached to the end of the pillow opposite the opening 98 to the hand cavity 96 disposed within the cushion interior 92 of the pillow 90. In other examples, the handle may be attached to one of the sides of the pillow adjacent to the opening 98 or on the same side as the opening 98.

FIG. 12 shows still another example of a hand pillow 100 according to the disclosed invention. In this example, a handle 104 is attached to one face 102 of the pillow 100. The handle 104 is attached to the face 102 of the pillow approximately midway between the opening 108 to the hand cavity 106 disposed within the cushion interior of the pillow 100 and the opposite end of the pillow. In other examples, the handle may be attached to one of the faces of the pillow closer or farther from the opening to the pillow interior as desired.

While the claimed technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the claimed technology are desired to be protected. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand pillow, comprising: a cushion portion comprising a padding material enclosed within a covering material; and a sleeve portion attached to one side of the cushion portion and having an opening sized and adapted to allow the insertion of a user's entire hand therein; wherein the cushion portion is at least large enough to cover all of a user's hand inserted into the sleeve portion.
 2. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the pillow further includes a strap portion comprising an elastic strap fixed to the covering material of the pillow.
 3. The pillow of claim 2, wherein the strap portion is of sufficient length so as to be capable of encompassing the diameter of the cushion portion when the cushion portion is rolled up.
 4. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the covering material is nylon and the padding material is air-filled microbeads.
 5. The pillow of claim 1, wherein the covering material includes a resalable opening for allowing padding material to be added and removed from the pillow.
 6. A hand pillow headrest, comprising: a cushioned portion comprising a cloth covered padding material sized and configured to be disposed between a user's head and hand; a sleeve portion engaged to the cushioned portion and defining a cavity sized and configured to accommodate the entire hand of a user and an opening allowing access thereto.
 7. The hand pillow headrest of claim 6, further comprising a strap portion fixed to the cloth covered portion.
 8. The hand pillow of claim 7, wherein the strap portion is made from an elastic material and is sized and configured so as to encompass the diameter of the hand pillow when it is rolled up.
 9. The hand pillow of claim 7, wherein the strap portion comprises two separable portions which are releasably joined to form a single strap.
 10. The hand pillow headrest of claim 6, wherein the cloth is selected from the group nylon, cotton, silk, and combinations thereof.
 11. The hand pillow headrest of claim 6, wherein the padding material is selected from the group air-filled microbeads, down, foam, feathers, and combinations thereof.
 12. The hand pillow headrest of claim 6, wherein the cushioned portion is generally shaped as a rectangular solid.
 13. The hand pillow headrest of claim 6, wherein the sleeve portion further includes at least one smaller cavity sized and configured to accommodate a user's thumb connected to the cavity. 